The IBL's Chicago Iron Pigs

[gehrig38]

Frontier League from the mound, and field.

[gehrig38]

Offensive Leaders in the Coastal League

[gehrig38]

Pitching winners. My rotation needs some depth...

[gehrig38]

The Coastal League defensive leaders... And wow, I didn't realize I had such a good OF. Eric Hudson has improved each year behind the plate, CS going up, PB going down. Gutierrez and Collins 1-2 in Zone Rating.

[gehrig38]

Single Season Records set in 2014

Gregory McCain's (EDM) Avg. of .369 is 12 pts better than Rich Stone's (FRE) 2012 season of .357. He also ties Kevin Moore's (NH) single season record of 166 singles.

Curt Whimster (TUL) .4585 OBP breaks Mathew Moore's (NY) 2013 season of .4572. Whimster also breaks the single season OPS record of 1.090 set by Bill Hill (DAY) in 2012 with a 1.117 2014.

Jesus Andrales (LV) ties the single season SB record of 52, set in 2013 by Kevin Moore (NH)

On the pitching side, Enrique Yan (MICH) sets the single season mark for losses with 20. Teammate Al Stroud, with 19 (MICH) also broke the old mark of 18 set by Gerald Kelly (MICH) and Jesus Gallardo (PHX).

Vince Bray's 20-4 (PIT) season set a new win % record at .833. Breaking Joel Downs (TUL) .762 set in 2013. 4 other pitchers broke Downs mark this year.

Bobby Whitten (WMI) set a new single season mark for appearances with 93, breaking the mark of 87 set in 2012 by Clarence Barber (EDM) and again in 2014 bu Jesus Mejia (FRE).

Walt Thompson (BRO) now owns the top 3 K seasons for any pitcher. Breaking the old mark he set in 2012 of 278, with 281 this year. He also broke his own K/9 record of 10.268 with a 10.731 mark this year.

Jeff Ray (EP) and J.R Robinson set a new mark for walks, with 130. Breaking the 2012 record of 128 set by George Perkins (TUL)

[gehrig38]

Raul Feliz was put on the 15 day DL, he'll likely miss the entire post season, and Bob Barbour was put on the roster to give me a late inning burner.

3B Fred Huff was taken off the roster and MR Jose Torres was put on.

We will go with a 4 man rotation for the entire run, as far as we can go. Alejandrez, Williams, De La Torre and Davis, and if I can match up a LH to a lineup I will.

And a few roster moves.
Walt Thompson was designated for assignment.

[gehrig38]

I'm a stat fiend, so I love numbers. Thought it'd be cool to check out the top games in IBL history so far, offense and defense. Here are the 90+ Game score starts in the IBL's 3 years.

[gehrig38]

The all time 90+ Offensive performances.
Interesting to note my pitching gave up the best offensive game in 3 years, and that same player has the #3 game too.
There were no 90+ games in 2013. The top 3 games came this year.

[gehrig38]

Here's the playoff matchups for the Wild Card Round.
Half the field are first timers, San Antonio, El Paso, Staten Island, and Baltimore.

The Freedom of Philly are the only IBL team to see October baseball all three years.

Odds makers have the power in the Coastal League, with LA 2-1, Philly and Baltimore 4-1 and Tulsa 5-1. Chicago is 7.5-1, San Antonio and El Paso are 8-1 and Staten Island is 25-1.

[Izz]

How did a run manage to score off Rafael Garza's no hits and no walks? 3 consecutive errors? A combination of errors and hit batters? I remember you mentioning the game, but I don't remember if you mentioned the circumstances of the run allowed.

[gehrig38]

Might be getting carried away, but that's what, I think, this game is all about Here are the 4 post season matchups starting with the Frontier League

[gehrig38]

Originally Posted by Izz

How did a run manage to score off Rafael Garza's no hits and no walks? 3 consecutive errors? A combination of errors and hit batters? I remember you mentioning the game, but I don't remember if you mentioned the circumstances of the run allowed.

Leadoff E4, balk, ground out advances runner to 3rd, ground out scores the run.

[gehrig38]

A combination of the best offenses, starting pitching, and bullpens in the CL. Our series pits the top two HR hitting teams in the league, and the Baltimore LA series features the #1 starting rotations vs the #2.

[gehrig38]

2014 Playoffs
Wild Card Round (best of 5)
DAY 1 October 2nd, 2014
I am going to narrate the post season daily, with news from around the league at days end. Mainly because I have a ton of fun doing it this way. I’ll likely update my game inning to inning and cut in on other games at intervals so readers that want to follow along that way, can.

Tulsa @ San Antonio
GAME 1
Antonio Rodriguez (13-11 4.34) vs Colin Durham (14-6 4.08)

Staten Island @ El Paso
GAME 1
James Holloway (10-9 4.27) vs Jason Allen (17-4 3.68)

Los Angeles @ Baltimore
GAME 1
Tommy Hobbs (13-12 3.27) vs Albert Luna (14-10 3.51)

Philadelphia @ Chicago
GAME 1
Andrew Olson (13-14 3.93) vs Alfredo Alejandrez (16-11 3.73)

[MizzouRah]

Fantastic read.. good luck!

[gehrig38]

Thanks for following. I'm seriously wondering if anyone's followed the whole thread or if I'm just wasting time writing all this. I don't know that I'd stop anyway, but I still wonder. I am waiting on Orcin's next post as well The 22-16 start is nice, but surprised to see Chicago and Indy as followers.

[Izz]

I'm reading along as well, so there's as least two of us following

(In all seriousness, the number of views you've received so far would suggest there's plenty of readers, even if they're mostly lurking)

[gehrig38]

The league is loathe to announce ANYTHING not post season related, but this has been announced today.

The follow on commentary from the league leads me to think there will be some significant reshuffling, maybe......
In additional news, word out of the IBLPA is that the players have asked owners to reduce the # of MLB players an expansion team can sign to 3, from 5, in exchange for increasing the number of MLB non 40 man roster players available in the amateur draft.

[gehrig38]

2014 Playoffs
Wild Card Round (best of 5)
DAY 1 October 2nd, 2014
I am going to narrate the post season daily, with news from around the league at days end. Mainly because I have a ton of fun doing it this way. I’ll likely update my game inning to inning and cut in on other games at intervals so readers that want to follow along that way, can.

Philadelphia @ Chicago
GAME 1
Andrew Olson (13-14 3.93) vs Alfredo Alejandrez (16-11 3.73)
For some scouting insight it might be worth mentioning Alexander is 12-20 with 5 HR’s lifetime off Olson. Collins is just 4-17 with a HR. Hudson 1-12. Arredondo is 2-12 off Alejandrez with 1 HR, Vargas is 10-25 with a HR.

The Freedom come out swinging. Rodriguez singles, Navarro walks but Alejandrez K’s Arredondo. Ladd works a full count, battles and loads the bases with a walk. Vargas then lines a single to drive in 2. Kevin Peters makes it 5-0 4 pitches later with a 3 run homer to left. 5-0 into the bottom of the first, sigh…..
Collins singles to lead it off, steals 2nd and scores on Peters error of a Paul Riggs grounder. Alexander singles, runners on 1st and 3rd. Wes Morgan hits a Sac Fly to make it 5-2 and Chartier hits into a 4-6-3 to end the 1st, Philly 5 Chi 2.
The Philly offense will not let up. Mitchell Mills singles to lead off the 2nd, after a FC Manuel Navarro hits a double, driving in a run, Arredondo grounds out but Dave Ladd drills a 2R HR to end Alejandrez day (1.2-6-8-8-2-1). Jose Torres in the game and the Iron Pigs go 1-2-3 in the 2nd, 8-2 Philly.
Philly goes 1-2-3 in the 3rd, and Paul Riggs doubles home Massi Lorenzelli in the bottom half, 8-3 heading to the 4th.
Philly goes 1-2-3 in the 4th and Ernesto Gutierrez drills a solo shot in the bottom, 8-4 Philly after 4. Torres leaves after a 1 out walk to Dave Ladd, Sib van Bodegraven gets Antonio Vargas on a 4-6-3 to end the inning.
Hugh Collins singles leading off the bottom of the 5th, he steals 2nd (again) and goes to third on the throwing error (again!). Paul Riggs follows with a 2R HR and Dan Hill relieves Olson. Chicago goes quietly after an Alexander walk, 8-6 Philly, top 6.
Both clubs go quietly in the 6th, Sanchez relieves van Bodegraven and retires Mills, Rodriguez and Navarro in order. Sanchez relieves and gets the side in order in the top of the 7th.
In the bottom half Collins walks and is caught stealing on the 1st pitch. Dave Gibbons relieves and walks Riggs bringing Bill Alexander to the plate. Alexander drive a 1-0 fastball 431 feet to center for a 2 run game tying HR! Wes Morgan then singles, as does Jean Chartier, putting runners at 1st and 2nd 1 out, Gutierrez hits a long fly that Morgan goes to third on, but Eric Hudson grounds out. 8-8 heading into the 8th!
Sanchez K’s Arredondo to start the 8th, Pacheco relieves him and K’s Ladd and Vargas to end the inning.
A one out single from Lorenzelli ends with a whimper as Collins flies to center and Riggs grounds out. 8-8 into the 9th.
Kevin Peters singles to start the 8th, Pacheco gets Land and Byrd but Mills singles, Pennington comes in and Salvado Chavez PH for Rodriguez and grounds to 3rd to end the top of the 9th.
Philly Closer Julio Arroyo strolls to the mound and Alexander greets him with a solid single to start the inning, Bob Barbour is entered as the PR (exactly what I put him on the roster for, this situation.) Jared Smith lets Wes Morgan swing away, and he k’s….. Barbour is then caught stealing on the 2nd pitch to Jean Chartier, who proceeds to walk is then followed by a Gutierrez single. Hudson hits into a FC to end the inning. Ugh, I KNEW I should have sacrificed with Hudson. Damn.
Pennington gets PH David Fleming but gives up a single to Arredondo, and Cruz enters the game, we’re going for the W as we only have Potts in the pen left. Cruz promptly serves up a 2-2 2R HR to David Ladd, his 2nd of the game!
Sotolo grounds out, Lorenzelli singles, and Collins and Riggs make outs to end it, 10-8 Philly!
W Arroyo (1-0) L Cruz (0-1)

Tulsa @ San Antonio
GAME 1
Antonio Rodriguez (13-11 4.34) vs Colin Durham (14-6 4.08)
Curt Whimster hits a 2 run shot in the top of the 1st and Edgardo Chavez RBI single makes it 3-0, headed to the 2nd.
Whimster drills an RBI single in the 2nd to make it 4-0 and a Rich Alfred Grand Slam puts the rout on, 8-0 Tulsa. San Antonio gets 1 back in the bottom on a Villalobos single, 8-1 Silver Stars hitting.
Curt Whimster drills another RBI single (3-3 4 RBI’s) in the 3rd. Rajah Lashari doubles driving in 2 followed by an Ambrose Cox 3R HR, 14-1 Tulsa hitting top of 3.
Tulsa is STILL hitting in the top of the 3rd, the game is 19-1! Curt Whimster has his 4th hit, Joel Runas ties an FL record with his 4th run scored.
Tulsa ended the 3rd with 11 runs. Rich Alfred then homers, his 2nd (2-2 2 HR 5 RBI) in the 4th, 20-1 Tulsa heading to the bottom half.
Calmer heads have prevailed here…. No one has scored since the 4th, 20-1 Tulsa bottom 7.
20-1 heading to the bottom of the 8th, Whimster is 4-6 with 4 RBI’s on the day.
Still 20-1, top 9.
Game ends, mercifully, 20-1 Drillers.
W Rodriguez (1-0) L Durham (0-1)
HR TUL Whimster (1) Alfred (2) Cox (1)
Tulsa leads series 1-0

Staten Island @ El Paso
GAME 1
James Holloway (10-9 4.27) vs Jason Allen (17-4 3.68)
8:05 EST Start.
Just started, Yanks got 1-2-3 in the first, Diablos hitting, bottom 1.
A Gerald Wright sac fly in the 1st puts El Paso up 1-0 after 1. Yankees hitting top 2, bases loaded 1 out.
Ricardo Quintania hits a bases clearing 2B to make it 3-1 Staten Island, 2 hitters later Alejandro Villanuva hits a 2 run single for a 5-1 lead, where it stands now heading into the top of 3.
Staten Islands Neil Weber drills a 2 run HR in the top of the 3rd to extend their lead to 7-1.
El Paso answers in the bottom of the 4th when Michael Simpson hits his own 2 run shot, 7-3 Staten Island hitting, top of 4.
No score since the 4th, 7-3 Staten Island top of 6 2 outs runner on 1st Villanueva hitting.
The Bullpens have held the line on both sides, Tulsa hitting top of 7.
The Yanks Villanueva singles in a run in the top of the 8th, 8-3 Staten Island now in the bottom of 8.
Staten Island tacks on a 9th inning run to win it 9-3.
W Holloway (1-0 L Allen (0-1)
HR SI Weber (1) EP Simpson (1)
Staten Island leads the series 1-0

Los Angeles @ Baltimore
GAME 1
Tommy Hobbs (13-12 3.27) vs Albert Luna (14-10 3.51)
Felix Torres 3R HR puts LA up 4-0 in the 2nd. Baltimore’s Randy Boyd drills a 2 run shot in the bottom of the third to make it 4-2. A Vincente Soto Sac Fly in the top of the 5th extends LA’s lead to 5-2, headed to the top of 6.
No score since the 5th, 5-2 LA hitting top of 7.
A scoreless 7th, 5-2 LA top of 8.
A Juan Torres RBI single in the bottom of the 8th makes it a 5-3 LA lead, runner on 2nd 2 outs, Tim Holmes hitting.
Baltimore gets a Tim Holmes RBI 2B to close to 5-4, but Gonzalez comes in and closes it out, 5-4 LA.
W Hobbs-(1-0) L-Luna (0-1) S-Gonzalez (1)
HR LA Torres (1) BAL Boyd (1)
LA Leads Series 1-0

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by gehrig38

I'm seriously wondering if anyone's followed the whole thread or if I'm just wasting time writing all this. I don't know that I'd stop anyway, but I still wonder.

There are plenty of readers, I assure you. Some don't want to comment because they think it breaks up the thread. Others (like you in my thread) are still catching up and don't want to comment on old news. Still more just like to read and never comment.

This field, this game: it's a part of our past. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come. People will most definitely come.

Originally Posted by gehrig38

I am waiting on Orcin's next post as well The 22-16 start is nice, but surprised to see Chicago and Indy as followers.

Thanks for following.